MILLBROOK — After not having regular meetings since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, the first in-person, indoor meeting of the Millbrook Historical Society (MHS) gathered at the Millbrook Library on Thursday, Nov. 18, for a lively discussion of Mary Flagler Cary.
More than 50 people gathered to hear a talk entitled, “The Artist of the Canoo Hill,” by Brad Roeller. He spoke of his experiences working at the Cary Arboretum, which started in 1972. He ended up working there for the next 37 years.
During his time there, Roeller met many acquaintances and employees of Mary Flagler Cary, granddaughter of Henry Flagler.
Flagler, an American industrialist, a founder of Standard Oil and founder of the Florida East Coast Railway, was born right in Hopewell in 1830.
Roeller is a renowned horticulturist, author and Innisfree Garden trustee who has also lent his expertise to such celebrated gardens as the Botanical Gardens and the Altamont Estate.
Flagler, who fell in love with Florida and eventually moved there, spent the majority of his time there until his death in 1910. He left behind a vast estate.
Among the many relatives he left behind was a granddaughter, Mary, who has ties Millbrook.
She married Melbert B. Cary, a graphic artist and founder of the Wooly Whale, a private press that published very specific titles. He also had an amazing collection of books that were donated to the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) after his death.
The Carys had a country estate in Millbrook, which began with one farm and grew from there to the vast acreage we know today as the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies.
The Carys enjoyed their country estate in Millbrook and Mrs. Cary, a well known philanthropist, devoted much of her time to managing the property of close to 2,000 acres after her husband’s death in 1941. A quiet and reserved woman, she had a special fondness for the Maple trees on the property.
She was an avid photographer and the property provided her with a wealth of subject matter for taking photos, mostly in black and white, and surprisingly, many Polaroid pictures.
Her love for her property, its trees and the wildlife it supported encouraged her to set up a charitable trust. She bequeathed her estate to an organization involved in conservation and preservation of natural resources and the maintenance of such properties.
Mary Flagler Cary died in 1967 and in 1971 her trustees asked the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) to oversee her property, at that time called the Mary Flagler Cary Arboretum.
In 1983 Gene Likens, who was affiliated with the NYBG, founded the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook as part of the New York Botanical Garden. In 1993 it became an independent nonprofit center for ecological research with Likens as director and president.
Roeller, during his years at the Cary Institute, became acquainted with several local people who knew or worked for the Cary family. He was shown many photographs of the early years at their estate. He was even shown some photos taken by Mrs. Cary.
Even now, more than 50 years after her death, many of the trees standing in the forests of the Cary Institute are among those planted during her day.
There are also many photographs that were taken by her — of the property, of the trees — a history in photos of early conservation efforts.
Today, the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies located at 2801 Sharon Turnpike (Route 44), which once belonged to the Carys, remains an important part of Millbrook’s history and of its future.
Cary researchers and scientists study the environment, issues of climate change, infectious disease, freshwater and forest health and urban ecology, as its website (www.caryinstitute.org) describes.
Locals and tourists alike are welcome to visit the vast hiking trails, study the ferns that grow along the ponds and streams and watch the many animals in their natural habitat.
It’s safe to say that the spirit of Mary Flagler Cary and her philanthropic ways are alive and well in Millbrook.
For more information and future meetings of the MHS, go to www.millbrookhistoricalsociety.org.
AMENIA — The first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Webutuck Elementary School went smoothly, with teachers enthusiastically greeting the eager young students disembarking from buses. Excitement was measurable, with only a few tears from parents, but school began anyway.
Ready for her first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Webutuck Elementary School, Liliana Cawley, 7, would soon join her second grade class, but first she posed for a photo to mark the occasion.Photo by Leila Hawken
AMENIA — While the courage and perseverance of Revolutionary era patriots is well understood and celebrated, the stories of the fate of British loyalists in New York are not as clear.
Seen as the initial event in observance of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Amenia Historical Society will present a talk titled, “The Plight of a Loyalist in Revolutionary New York,” examining the journal of Cadwallader Colden, Jr., spanning the period of 1777-1779. The speaker will be noted author, genealogist and historian Jay Campbell.
The talk is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. at the Smithfield Presbyterian Church in Amenia. The handicapped-accessible church is located at 656 Smithfield Valley Road. Refreshments will be served.
Colden was the son of a New York Lieutenant Governor. He was a surveyor, farmer and mercantilist, serving as a judge in Ulster County. His fortunes changed dramatically with the dawn of the Revolutionary War when he remained loyal to the British Crown. His arrest came in 1776, just before the start of his journal.
Campbell is a historian specializing in Hudson Valley history, and the regional stories of Revolutionary era families.
Erin Rollins of Millbrook in the Fashion Feed booth, open year round, at the Millbrook Antiques Mall. All proceeds from Fashion Feeds go to the Food of Life Pantry. As an interior designer by trade, Rollins designed this booth to evoke a high-end department store to align with the designer brands she carries.
MILLERTON — The Townscape 50/50 raffle drawing has collected a pot of more than $7,000.
That raffle drawing will take place this Saturday at 2 p.m. in Veteran’s Park. The moment is not just about picking a winner, but also about reflecting on how far Townscape has come since its humble beginnings in 1998, when founder Catherine Fenn — alongside Renee Vollen and Jan Gilmor — first set out to beautify her beloved village.
Fenn’s connection to Millerton runs deep. “I moved here from the Bronx when I was eight years old and fell in love with the place, even as a child,” she recalled, remembering camping trips at Rudd Pond and enjoying the quiet pace of life.
At 15, her family relocated to southern Connecticut. “My dad didn’t think there was much here for us, so we moved. I left kicking and screaming, literally, and I said, ‘Someday I’m coming back.’”
Years later, after marrying, divorcing, and raising children, Fenn kept that promise. She returned to Millerton and married a childhood friend who was very involved in the fire department. After his passing, Fenn threw herself into her own way of giving back.
“I care about this village deeply. Townscape is my way of helping Millerton be the best it can be,” she said.
What began as an informal effort to gather volunteers and plant flowers eventually blossomed into something larger. “We started with flowers up and down Main Street — barrels of them everywhere. Then it grew into benches, tables, trees and even events. It was such a fun world, a really wonderful organization with so many people involved.”
Fenn’s service to the community extends beyond beautification. She spent roughly two decades on the Planning Board, served as Town Supervisor and worked with the county housing authority. Still, her passion for flowers, trees and landscapes has left the most visible mark on Millerton — shaping not only how the village looks, but how it feels.
In 2006, Townscape became a nonprofit organization. But beautification, Fenn admits, isn’t always the easiest cause to fund. “We’re just putting flowers out — and I shouldn’t say ‘just,’ because to me it’s really important. The trees, the benches, all of it matters. But it’s not high on most people’s list when they think about charitable donations. Still, people have been wonderfully generous over the years.”
This Saturday’s raffle drawing is one way neighbors can show their support. The winner does not have to be present to claim the prize, but those who stop by can enjoy cookies, lemonade and artwork by local creators on display in the park.
MILLBROOK — Local crows should prepare to become highly spooked as planners of Millbrook Community Day, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20, have announced that a Scarecrow Contest will be part of the festivities.
Residents are invited to get creative and devise their own renditions of a scarecrow from traditional to whatever imagination might come up with.
Judging criteria will include creativity, including originality, new ideas, or perhaps whether the scarecrow tells a story. Design criteria include the creator’s technique, materials — recycled materials are emphatically a plus — and durability.
Rules include that scarecrows be free-standing, able to stand on their own or with minimal support. No scarecrow can be store-bought. Entries must be able to fit within a 6 x 6 foot space once assembled. A stand is available upon request. Scarecrows must be non-political, family friendly, and in a good-natured spirit.
Entrants are responsible for set-up, scheduled from 9 to 10 a.m. on Sept. 20, location to be assigned the week before. Judging will begin at 1 p.m. Winners will be announced at 2 p.m.
For more information and to register to participate, email mba@millbrooknewyork.com or go to www.millbrooknewyork.com/community-day-2025
